Moistening device



Nov. 6,1923.

T. H. KRUEGER MOI STENING DEVI CE Filed May 7, 1920 2 sheets-sheet l HI W I l I 1 \w M v ATTORNEY Nov. 6 1923.

T. H. KRUEGER MOISTENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May '7, 1920 7 AZTOR/VEY Patented Nov. 6, 192.

THEODORE H. KRUEGER, OF NEW YORK, Y.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

Application filed May 7, 1920. a Serial No. 379,465.

To all whom it any concern:

Be; it known that I, THEODORE H. KRUEGER, a citizen of the United States, residin' in the city of New York, county of New ork, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moistening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to moistening devices, and has more particular referenceto a devie'ewhicli is capable of moistening either a continuous strip or a succession of individual stickers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and easilyhandled device for applying moisture to adhesive tape and'also to individual stickers which may be independently handled or made up in the form of a connected chain of stickers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device embracing the above characteristics and which also embodies means for storin or holding a quantity of the tape or stic ers so as to fprevent curling of same, and in position or easy access to the moistener so that the desired length of tape or number of stickers may be quickly passed from the magazine to the moistening elements.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawin in which igure '1 is a top plan View of a tape and sticker magazine and moistener constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one side of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.. f

Figure 3 is a similar view taken through the other side of the device on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the device on the line 4-4 of Figure 1. r

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all of the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. 1

Referring to the drawings, the" present embodiment of the invention is carried out in a device provided with a main frame 1 which may be of cast metal and formed with an upstanding marginal wall defining at one end of the frame a transversely extending trough or reservoir 2 adapted to contain water or other suitable liquid for moistening the articles which are to be gummed. The casing is divided longitudinally by a partition 3 into compartments which extend longitudinally and at op osite sides of the casing, one compartment ing preferably of greater width than the other, and the other partition 3 terminating short of one end of the casing to provide an intercommunicating passage 4 between the opposite ends of the receptacle or reservoir. In one of the compartments and in one end of the'reservoir 2 is a moistening roller 5 suitably mounted in bearings carried by the frame 1 with the lower portion of the roller adapted to be immersed in the li uid con-- tent in the reservoir, and which iquid is adapted to be carried up upon the periphery of the roller 5 when the latter is rotated. Above the roller 5 and at one side thereof is a deflector plate and knife 6 adapted to extend across the said compartment of'the casing and provided with a lip 7 upturned at an obtuse angle and lying substantially in a plane tangential to the upper portion of the roller 5. The deflector plate and. knife 6 is adapted to receive thereunder a strip 8 whichis fed over the to of the roller to be moistened by the liqui raised upon the roller, The plate 6 is located at the upper end of a. downwardly inclined bed 9 preferably made", up of a plurality of rollers extending transversely of 95 the compartment and adapted to support' the strip 8 in flat condition to be fed beneath the plate 6. The bed 9 receives the strip from a, roller 10 arranged near the opposite end of the frame 1 and beneath a 100 magazine or holder in the form of a spin dle 11 upon which a roll of adhesive tape or the like is adapted to be placed. The adhesive tape is drawn from the roll on the spindle 11 beneath the roller 10, up- 105 wardly over the bed 9 and beneath the plate 6, and finally over the moistening roller 5 from which it may be drawn for use. The passage of the tape over the roller 5 moistens the adhesive thereon, and after a 110 suflicient length of the tape has been thus moistened, the tape is drawn upwardly and across the edge of the deflector knife 6 to sever or out off the desired length of tape from the stri As shown in Figure 1, the spindle 11 o the roll holder projects laterally from a standard secured to the partition 3 and is threaded throughout a portion of its length to receive anut 12 which may be removed from the spindle 11 for the purpose of permitting rolls of tape to be easily placed upon and removed from the spindle 11. Furthermore, the nut 12 may be adjustably positioned upon the spindle 11 to permit the use of re ls of tape of various widths.

In order to maintain the adhesive tape 8 in proper position upon the bed 9 and roller and 111 line with the roll of tape upon the spindle 11, a transversely adjustable guide 13 is employed, and is in the form of a block mounted in threaded relation upon a transverse screw-threaded rod 14. journaled at opposite ends of the adjacent outer side of the frame 1. A knurledhead or handie 15 is carried upon the outer end of the rod 14 for facilitating turning of the latter 7 and transverse movement of the guide block 13. The block 13 has a horizontal; kerf 16 in one side adapted to receive the adjacent edge of the strip 8 for maintaining the strip toward the partition 3. v

The reservoir 2 is provided, in the other side of the frame with a depression or socket 18 extending across the inner side of the reservoir and adapted to receive therein a pair of spaced apart brush heads 19 carrymg bunc es of bristles 20 which extend upwardly and to a point above the top of the reservoir. Preferably, the reservolr has a hinged lid 21 and a fixed cover portion 22 for closing the upper side of the reservoir for reventing evaporation of the liquid and holding the bristles 20 of the brushes in upright position with the lower or inner ends the brushes immersed in the fluid content in the reservoir, as shown in Figure 3. Pressure plates 23 are arranged transvers ely of the frame 1 in the said second compartment at a point above the upper ends of the bristles 20, the bristles 20 being adapted to bear yieldingl and frictionally against the underside of t e pressure plates 23 to brush against gummed articles, such as stickers, which are adapted to be introduced beneath the pressure plates 23. The frame 1 is provided with a ed 24 leading downwardly and forwardl from the pressure plates 23 and in space relation beneath the same for guiding and directing the movements of stickers or the like which are adapted to be moistened beneath the plate 23. Beyond the bed 24 is a holder 25 in the form of a magazine within which stickers 26 are adapted to be stacked, the same being held down flat to prevent curling of the gummed material by a weighted follower 27 arranged within the magazine and provided with a weight bar 28 slidable against the front side of the magazine for holding the follower in position and for drawing" the same downwardly. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the follower 27 is recessed or open at its intermediate portion and the bar 28 is provided in such portion with a rojecting cam or finger 29 adapted to at against the adjacent edge of the uppermost article in the magazine for. urging the lat sage of an intermediate portion of a sticker or the like through the device while being moistened, and allowing the sticker to be continuously held between the fingers during the application of moisture to the sticker.

From the dotted lines shown in Figure 3,

it will be noted that the rear edge of the uppermost sticker 26 in the magazine 25 may belifted with the forefinger and the sticker then' be grasped between the thumb and finger and withdrawn from the follower 27 and carried over the top of the magazine to the bed 24, thence upwardly from the bed to the pressure plates 23 beneath which the opposite ends of the sticker are adapted to engage and to be simultaneously moistened by the liquid rising by capillary attraction between the bristles 20 of the brushes. The sticker or the like "is carried from beneath the pressure plates 23"and is ready for use, being held throughout the process between the thumb and finger of the operators hand. As soon as the uppermost sticker 26 has been removed from the magazine 25, the weight bar 28 draws the follower 27 downwardly against the next sticker in the magazine, holding it flat and preventing its curling and the cam finger 29 rides against the ad acent edge of said second sticker and imparts to the same a slight'rearward movement sufiicient for engaging the end of the finger beneath its forward edge.

' It will thus be noted that the device combines in a single structure a single reservoir, a single frame for combining the reservoir and other parts, a common partition extending partway along in the casi and constituting a support at opposite si es for the moisture applying devices to either the tape or the stickers, and the frame also affords a common support or holder for the stickers and for the roll of tape if desired. Having thus described the invention, what of means for supporting a plurality of different types of articles to be moistened, a reservoir for containinga moistening liquid,

and independent means mounted in said reservoir for 'transmittmg moisture therefrom to articles of each of said types to be moistened, one of said moistening means comprising a plurality of moistening members spaced from each other'so as to leave an intermediate area of'the article with which it is intended to cooperate, unmoistened.

2. In a moistening device, the combination of a reservoir, and a plurality of independent moistening elements therein. for moistening various types of articles, one of said moistening elements being arranged to moisten article'sacross their entire widths, and the other being divided so as to moisten articles only at portions spaced from each other. 1

3. In a moistening device, the combination of a support'for a plurality of types of articles to be moistened, said support comprisin a member for receiving a quantity of indivi ual package fastening devices and a member for receiving-a length of tape, and

said fastening devices being gummed at certain portions of their surfaces and said tape being gummed across its entire surface, individual means for applying moisture to articles of each of said types, said means being arranged to apply moisture to said tape and to said fastening devices only at the gummed portions of their surfaces.

4. In a moistening device, the combination of a support for a plurality of types of 'articles to be moistened, said support compris ing a member for receiving a quantity of individual package fastening devices and a member for receiving a length of tape, a single reservoir for containing liquid for moistening said articles, and a moistening element for each of said types of articles to transmit moisture from said reservoir to the respective articles, said element comprising a brush having its head immersed in said reservoir.

-5. 'In a moistening device, a frame, a reservoir carried in the frame adapted to contain a moistening fluid, a moistening brush mounted in said reservoir witli'its head submerged in" said moistening fluid, and sup portln means carriedby the frame in cooperative relation with the reservoir for supporting and directing articles to be moistened into'cooperative relation with the reservoir, said supporting means comprising a member for receiving a quantity of individual packa e fastening devices placed on top of each ot er, and a member for receiving a roll of tape.

6. In a moistening device, the combination only the ters on the frame, the article of one character being gummed across its entire surface and the article of the other character being gummed only at certain parts of its surface,

moisture applying means for each holder cooperatively arranged with respect to said reservoir, said means being arranged to apply moisture to said different articles only at the gummed portions of their surfaces, and means on the frame for directin the various articles from their respective ho ders to the moistening devices, whereby the same may be moistened from liquid in the common reservoir.

7. In a moistening device, a frame, a sin: gle reservoir carried in one end of the frame, article holders mountedin the other end of the frame for articles of different characters, one of said holders'consisting of a member for receiving a quantity of individual numbers of sheet material laced in juxtaposition and another of saiilholderscom'prising a member for receiving a roll of ta e, moistening means cooperatively arrange with respect to ranged between the holders and the moistening devices for directing the movements of said articles to the moistening devices said individual members of said material gummed at certain spaced portions of their surface and said tape being gummed across its entire surface, and means whereby said moistening means is caused to apply moissaid single reservoir, and means arbeing ture to the entire surface of the tape and to the individual members of said material.

8. Ina moistening device, a common frame, magazines arranged in one end of the frame for supporting articles of different characters, the article of one character being gummed across its entire surface and the article of the other character being gummed only at certain spaced portions of its surface, indepcndent guiding means arranged in the frame, one for each magazine, a moistening device for each guiding means, each moistening device being arranged to apply moisture to said different articles only at the gummed portions of their surfaces, and a common reservoir in the frame for suppllying a liquid to the moistening devices.

9. na moistening device, a frame provided with a reservoir in one end and guiding means carried by the frame and leading from the rearward end of the reservoir toward the forward end of the frame, moistening devices located in opposite ends of the reservoir at the adjacent ends of the guiding means, and se arate magazines arranged in said other en. of thefframe for supporting articles of different ic aracters to be moistened, one of said. magazines comprismmed portions of the surface of &

ing a member for receiving a, quantity of individual package fastening devices placed in juxtaposition, and another of said magazines comprising a member for receiving a length of tape.

10. In a 'moistening device, a frame, a common reservoir extending across one end of the frame, independent holders mounted in the opposite sides and at the other end of the frame for supporting'articles of different characters,,tthe articles of one character being gummed entirely across the surface and the articles of the other character being gummed only at certain spaced portions of the surface, guiding means arranged in opposite sides of the frame between the reservoir and the holders to receive the articles from the respective holders, and moisture applying devices cooperatively arranged with respect to each end of the reservoir for applying moisture to the articles passed through the uiding means, said moisture applying devices being arranged to apply moisture to said different articles only at the gummed portions of their surfaces.

11. In a moistening device, a frame pro vided with a transversely extending reservoir in one end, a magazine in one side of the frame at the opposite end thereof for sup orting a stack of stickers, a holder in said other end of the frame at the opposite side thereof adapted to support a roll of adhesive tape, independent guiding means for said magazine and said holder to respectively carry the stickers and the adhesive tape to the common reservoir, and moisture applying means cooperating with the reservoir for applying moisture to the stickers and the tape as the latter are advanced toward the reservoir.

12. In a moistening device, a frame rovided with a single reservoir exten in across one end thereof and having a longitudinally extending partition intermediate the sides of the frame and interrupted at one end by said reservoir, a magazine in the other end of the frame at one side of thepartition for maintaining a vertical stack of stickers,'a guiding device arranged in said side of the frame between the magazine and the reservoir for receiving and directing stickers from said stack into a position over the reservoir, moisture applying means associated with the reservoir for applying moisture therefrom to the stickers, a roller supported in said other end of the frame at the opposite side of the partition and adapted to carry a roll of ad means-at said other side of the partition be tween the roller and the reservoir adapted to direct a length of the adhesive tape from esive tape, guiding the roll to the reservoir, and moisture applying meansiassociated with the adjacent por tion of the reservoir for moistening the end of the tape as the latter is moved toward the reservoir.

13. In a moistening device, the combination of a frame having a reservoir in one end and a partition extending longitudinally the stickers toward the reservoir, brushes seated in the inner side of the reservoir and having bunches of bristles projecting upwardly in-spaced apart relation to said guide for wiping the underside of the stickers as the latter are drawn through the ide,'a holder in said opposite end of the ame at the other side of the partition adapted to" support a roll of adhesive tape, guiding means between the holder and the reservoir for receiving a length of tape from the roll and conveying the same to the reservoir, a roller arranged in the reservoir adapted to peripherally contact with the tape drawn from said guide, and adjustable means adapted to engage the outer edge for maintaining the same in ahnement with the holder and said roller.

14. In a moistening device, a frame having a reservoir at one end, a magazine arranged within the outer end of the'frame adapted to support a stack of stickers, a follower carried by the magazine for maintaining the stickers ,in stacked form and including an advancing device for the uppermost sticker to maintain it in position for easy access, a two-part separated guide located between the magazine and the reservoir for receiving the opposite ends of stickers withdrawn from the magazine and directing the stickers toward the reservoir,

roll of adhesive tape, guiding means for the end of said tape to direct it to the reservoir, and moisture applying means cooperatively arran d with respect to the reservoir for ap lying moisture to the end of the tape fed from said guide.

THEODORE H. KRUEGER.

of the tape- 

